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Bio-based Chemicals and/or Materials from Woody Residues

Description

This Innovation Action supports the demonstration and scale-up of innovative technologies that convert woody residues from forestry and forest-based industries into high-value bio-based chemicals and/or materials. The objective is to increase the value derived from underutilised woody biomass streams, improve the sustainability of forest-based value chains, and reduce reliance on low-value uses such as energy recovery. Projects should establish commercially viable biorefinery pathways while supporting sustainable forest management and circular bioeconomy objectives.

Funding Amount

  • Expected EU contribution per project: €7 million (indicative)
  • Total topic budget: €14 million
  • Expected number of funded projects: 2 projects
  • Funding rate
    • 60% of eligible costs for for-profit entities.
    • 100% of eligible costs for non-profit legal entities.

Submission Deadlines

  • Call opening: 23 April 2026
  • Submission deadline: 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (CET)
  • Submission model: Single-stage.

Submission Conditions

  • Horizon Europe Innovation Action (IA).
  • Single-stage application.
  • Projects should achieve an end TRL of 6–8.
  • Demonstration technology must reach TRL 6 or higher.
  • End-product validation must reach TRL 5 or higher.
  • Mandatory Multi-Actor Approach (MAA) involving local forest owners, forest managers, cooperatives and/or sector associations.
  • Mandatory application of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework.
  • Proposal must include optimisation of woody biomass supply chains.
  • Proposal must apply eco-design principles in accordance with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.
  • Incineration-based end-of-life solutions are out of scope.
  • Proposal must satisfy the CBE JU IKOP threshold of at least 15% of total eligible project costs.
  • Proposal Part B limited to 70 pages.
  • Standard Horizon Europe and CBE JU eligibility and evaluation rules apply.

Eligible Businesses

Eligible applicants under Horizon Europe include:

  • SMEs
  • Large enterprises
  • Start-ups and scale-ups
  • Universities
  • Research organisations
  • Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
  • Forestry companies
  • Forest owners and forest owner cooperatives
  • Wood processing companies
  • Pulp and paper companies
  • Sawmills
  • Biorefinery operators
  • Chemical and materials manufacturers
  • Biotechnology companies
  • Biomass logistics providers
  • Non-profit organisations
  • Other relevant industrial value-chain partners participating in project consortia.

Eligible Countries

Eligible participants are legal entities established in:

  • EU Member States.
  • Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
  • Other countries eligible under the Horizon Europe Rules for Participation, where applicable.

Standard Horizon Europe eligibility rules apply.

Target TRL

  • Project end TRL: TRL 6–8
  • Technology demonstration: TRL 6 or higher
  • End-product validation: TRL 5 or higher.

Expected Outcome

Projects are expected to deliver:

  • Increased availability of bio-based chemicals and/or bio-based materials derived from woody residues.
  • More sustainable forest-based value chains through cooperation with local forestry owners, managers and cooperatives.
  • Improved end-of-life performance of bio-based products through eco-design.
  • Increased valorisation of underutilised woody residues into high-value products.
  • Reduced dependence on fossil-based raw materials.
  • Contributions to:
    • EU Forest Strategy for 2030
    • EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
    • Carbon Removal Certification Framework Regulation
    • Updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy
    • Upcoming Circular Economy Act.

Scope

Projects should:

  • Demonstrate innovative technologies (TRL 6 or above) for producing bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues.
  • Use woody residues generated from forestry operations and/or industrial processing sites, including:
    • Bark
    • Sawdust
    • Residues from wood harvesting and processing
    • Other woody residues (e.g. vine stocks, olive tree residues, wood panel manufacturing residues and wood recycling residues are considered in scope).
  • Demonstrate integrated and scalable processing technologies covering:
    • Feedstock pre-treatment and fractionation
    • Conversion into chemicals and/or materials
    • Separation and purification
  • Address variability in feedstock quality through flexible processing technologies.
  • Validate (TRL 5 or above) the resulting chemicals and/or materials in end products, demonstrating compliance with technical performance requirements for their intended markets.
  • Apply eco-design principles in line with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation to improve sustainable end-of-life performance. Incineration is explicitly out of scope.
  • Apply a Multi-Actor Approach (MAA), ensuring close collaboration with:
    • Local forest owners
    • Forest managers
    • Cooperatives
    • Sector associations.
  • Optimise biomass supply chains, including sourcing, storage and transport.
  • Apply the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework to the targeted chemicals/materials and derived bio-based products.

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